India
oi-Swastika Sruti
ONO Keiichi, the Ambassador of Japan to India, has gained popularity among social media users for posting about his experience of taking a dip in the holy river Ganga at Rishikesh.
Japanese Ambassador ONO Keiichi shared his profound experience of taking three dips in the holy Ganga River in Rishikesh during the Janmashtami weekend, expressing awe, humility, and gratitude and receiving warm social media reactions.
ONO Keiichi posted the video as well as photographs of his visit to the site through X, calling his experience one of “awe, humility, and gratitude.” His post, which came during the Janmashtami weekend, received reactions almost immediately from Indians.
Japanese Ambassador Takes Three Dips In Ganga
The Japanese ambassador ONO Keiichi revealed that he had a proper dip in the Ganges River in Rishikesh for the first time, and this took place thrice on the occasion of the Janmashtami weekend. In the video footage shared by ONO, he is seen entering the river to take a dip while holding a chain near the bank of the river.
He also uploaded a selfie of himself in the Ganga and also a picture of his participation in an aarti ceremony. On sharing his experience, ONO stated that he was amidst people with centuries-old beliefs and traditions.
Japanese Ambassador Ono Keiichi takes three sacred dips in the holy Ganga at Rishikesh ❤️
SANATAN HI SATYA HAI 🚩 pic.twitter.com/oZLEN4BOD8
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) September 6, 2026
As he said, the aura of the place made him feel spiritually connected and made him experience awe, humility, and gratitude. The experience was called by him “truly unforgettable”.
Social Media Users Welcome His Experience
The ambassador’s post received a warm response from social media users in India.
Several users welcomed his visit to Rishikesh and praised his willingness to experience Indian traditions firsthand.
One user jokingly warned him that once someone falls in love with the Ganga and Rishikesh, it may become difficult to leave the place.
Another user highlighted the difference between religion and culture, commenting that while not everyone may practise a particular religion, people can still appreciate and follow its cultural traditions.
Some users also used the opportunity to recommend local experiences to the Japanese diplomat. One person suggested that he try a cup of traditional Himalayan chai, while another recommended river rafting in Rishikesh.
Another user asked whether he had experienced the traditional atmosphere of the festival as well.
ONO Keiichi Has Often Shared Indian Food And Culture
This is not the first time ONO Keiichi has shared his experiences of Indian culture with his followers. During his time in India, the Japanese ambassador has regularly posted about Indian food, traditions and local experiences.
Earlier this year, he shared his experience of eating biryani with his hands in Delhi. Drawing a comparison with sushi, he said the Indian dish tasted even better when eaten by hand.
His food-related posts have also included Bihar’s famous litti chokha.
After trying the traditional dish, ONO described it as “world-famous” and gave his verdict in Bhojpuri, writing “Gajab swad ba”, meaning “great taste”.
